The Halifax County Chamber of Commerce bestowed its annual business awards Thursday night at the annual Chamber banquet held at The Prizery. From top, Virginia International Raceway was named Business of the Year. Agnes Morris with Oak Tree Spa at VIR accepts the Business of the Year honor, presented by last year’s winner, Michael Lyon and Chamber vice-president Grey Watson. Speaking about the Alton road-racing course, Lyon hailed its transformation from “an abandoned business into a 1,400-acre resort, which draws 400,000 visitors and significant revenue, to Halifax County, each year.” The track will host the 2019 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Runoffs, featuring the nation’s best amateur racers, in one of its biggest coups to date. Jimmy Epps, with his wife Olivia, with B&B Consultants took home the Business Person of the Year Award. Epps was honored for his leadership of B&B Consultants, which has offices in South Boston and South Hill and employs three dozen engineers, soil scientists and other professional staff. The company also has operations in Chase City and Emporia. Ryland Clark, receives the Young Professional Person of the Year award from Liz Trickey Smith. Chamber chairman David Forlines of Mid-Atlantic Test & Balance receives his outgoing chairman’s gavel from Grey Watson. (Blakely Swanson photos)